teasing

American  

[tee-zing] / ˈti zɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of persistently annoying someone, especially playfully and with silly jokes about them.

   Most holidays, we all manage to squeeze in at Grandma’s and enjoy a crazy day full of laughter, teasing, eating, and sharing.

2. the act of bullying, harassing, or tormenting someone.

   Many students with learning disabilities suffer the frustration of low achievement and the teasing and poor self-image that come with it.

3. the act of purposely exciting, tantalizing, or sexually arousing someone without providing subsequent gratification.

   She smiled over her shoulder at him, brown eyes shiny with teasing.

---

adjective

1. harassing, tantalizing, or playfully annoying someone in any of these ways.

   In answer to my eager question, they shrugged a teasing “maybe.”

   Lisa turns 20 next month and her mother is already sending her teasing texts featuring grandma emojis.

Other Word Forms

• teasingly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of teasing

First recorded in 1585–95; teas(e) ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. ) for the noun senses; teas(e) ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. ) for the adjective sense

Example Sentences

In his 2018 Times review, critic Justin Chang called it “a delightful, teasing wisp of a tale.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2026

She said she’s overheard her son and his friends teasing each other about things like high cortisol and high testosterone.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 11, 2026

The electric bike- and scooter-rental startup Lime has officially filed to go public, after years of teasing the move.

From MarketWatch • May 8, 2026

Tlaib loosened the room immediately, teasing her teenage niece, calling her “the future” while the girl shrank in embarrassment.

From Slate • Apr. 29, 2026

“I’m going to need a defibrillator,” I’d joked, because of course, I thought she was just teasing me.

From "Courage to Soar" by Simone Biles

Related Words

• irritating
• joking
• mocking